The Valley Line: Happy Hour for '3-2-1 Dig!'

One couldn't have asked for a more beautiful night for a party. It was a starry night and a nearly full moon was reflected in the backyard swimming pool as guests gathered on the patio of the mountain top home of Becky and Chuck Gelhaar for the recent La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn. Happy Hour event.

More than 80 people noshed on the huge spread of hors d'ouvres brought by guests and sipped beverages poured by bartenders for the evening Bob Wallace and Tony Riewe.

Besides exchanging news about who was going where for their summer vacation the main topic was how the progress of our city's float, "3-2-1 DIG!" The community got a peek at the float's classy chassis during its debut at the Memorial Day Parade. The chassis was driven by a truly classy lady — Arlene Buchmann, who is this year's official float driver. Though she won't be seen, she will be guiding our float down Pasadena's Colorado Boulevard on New Year's Day. Arlene, who lives in Orange County, is very thrilled to be this year's driver. In spite of the long drive to get to our fair city, Arlene loves working on our float.

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Jim Geoghegan, who is our T of R Assn.'s vice president of float development, construction and decoration, thinks this float is going to be a crowd pleaser with its bright colors and clever animation.

Association members generously open their homes for these Happy Hours, and anyone over 18 is welcome to bring an appetizer and join the fun. Pat and Otis Hutchins will host the next "Happy Hour" at their home, 5013 Castle Road. The festivities will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 23, with a delightful extra ingredient: Otis Hutchins and the Wright Stuff Jazz Band will perform for the occasion.

JANE NAPIER NEELY covers the La Cañada social scene. E-mail her at jnvalleysun@aol.com.